Metal studding system



Oct. 15, 1940. I w. G. HURLBERT, JR 2,218,426

METAL STUDDING SYSTEM Filed July 26, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 15,1940. w H R 4R 2,218,426

METAL STUDDING SYSTEM Filed July 26, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct.15, 1940 v i, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to structural building elements,'and moreparticularly to novel means for facilitating the erection of a fireproofstudding system. Steel studding usually consists of fabricated beamsmade up of comparatively light metalparts which must be anchored to thebelling and floor, frequently using track sections at one or bothpoints.

According to the present invention, it is proposed to provide meansassociated with each stud which will permit of its being placed betweenthe ceiling and fioor tracks in an intially oblique po sition. andthentwisted or turned at right angles to the tracks to become.automatically locked in place. That isto say, aspecial object of theinventionis to provide novel means associated with the opposite ends ofthe stud for accomplishing an automatic interlock with the tracks,thereby expediting erection and efiectingsaving in time andlaborh' Afurtherobject of the invention is to provide a novel form of adjustableshoe and aslotted clip which may be used respectively at the top andbottom ofthe stud, or vice versa, and which in either case may becomeinterlocked with the track sections by twisting or rotating the studengaged therewith from an initial oblique position to an ultimatetransverse position, namely, the position that the stud is to occupy inthe completed structure. In that connection it willjbe also understoodthat the adjustable shoemay be usedat opposite ends of the stud, or, onthe other hand, the slotted anchoring clips may be used at opposite endsof the stud since in both cases they maybe interlocked with the tracksby twisting or turning. In some cases the slotted anchoring clips maybeincorporated as a fixed part of the stud atthe time the latter isfabricated, and when this form of clip interlocking means is used, the.

4,0 studding may be made in sections and connected by splicing sleeveswhich telescopically fit over the chord members of the stud to permitrelative adjustment of the stud sections to suit difierent partitionheights. As further illustrating the wide application ofthe novelfeature of twisting or turning the stud into final position, the invention' also contemplates providing the clip directly with arms in thenature of the splicing sleeves so that the clipxmay be adjustable on thestud in same manner as the shoe. In that connection, however; it may bepointed out that when the clip is provided with arms of this type, it isnot necessary towirethe arms to the chords or H flanges of 'fthistudbecause the sleeve like arms telescopically fit over the said chords orflanges.

With the aboveand other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, combination and ar rangementsof partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodi ent of the invention is shown in which:1

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the studding system including theceiling and floor tracks connected by a stud having track engaging meansat its ends in accordance with the present inven tion.

. Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 ofFigure 1.; i

Figure 3 ma top plan ,view of the ceiling track and stud shown in Figure1, with the stud and its interlocking means in its initial obliqueposition relative to the track. Figure 1 is a perspective view similarto Figure 1 showing the-use of track interlocking elements of the anchorclip type at each end of thestud, together with extensible splicingsleeves arranged medially of the studsections. Figure 5 is a top planview of a track section with the stud and its track interlocking meansarranged obliquely thereof prior to being twisted to its finaltransverse position.

. Figure 6 is a side elevation of a stud, with the ceilingtand floortracks in section andillustrating the useof the extensible top shoe inconnection with splicing sleeves to enablea wider range of adjustment inthe length of. the stud.

Figure 7 is a detail horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line11 of Figure 6 and illustrating one of the splicing sleeves.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a single section stud with the tracks incross-section, showing the adjustable anchor clip at the top of thestud.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the adjustable anchorclip shown in Figure8.

; Figure 10 is a cross sectional View taken on the line Ill-l0 of Fig.8. i

Figure 1 1 is a side elevation of a modified form of adjustable anchorclip made from one-piece channel stock and applied to a one-piecechannel stud.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 10.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of, a modified form of combined clip andsleeve unit.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in thedrawings, theceiling track is designated generally as A, the fioor track 3, thestuddingC' and the adjustable'top'shoe for the stud is identifiedgenerally as D. At the bottom of the stud there is provided a slottedanchor clip E, which, although useful in connecting the bottom of thestud with the floor track B in the particular combination shown inFigure 1, may also be used at the upper end of the stud for connectingthe top thereof with a ceiling track A, as will later appear.

In connection with the shoe D and clip E, a distinctive characteristicin common is that both of these elementspermit of first applying thesame, including the stud, at anoblique angle to the ceiling and floortracks and within the channel provided therein, and then from thisinitial position, the entire stud may be turned or twisted into rightangular relation with both tracks whereupon they automatically becomelocked in anchored or set position. I

Referring first to the ceiling and floor tracks A and B it may bepointed out that these elements are of channel cross-section and in theembodiment shown preferably consist of opposite flanges or chordmembers, for example, the angle irons I-I, connected by transverse webstraps 2. The stud C may be of the same general construction as theceiling and fioor tracks, that is, the stud may .be of'channel formationjust described, or it may be of substantially I-beam formation in crosssection as shown in the drawings. Ineither event the stud C comprisesthe opposite flangeportions or chords 33 connected by a transverse webmember or members 4, the ends of the latter being welded or otherwisesecured to the chord members whether they comprise a single 'L-shapedchannel or two L-shaped channels arranged back to back.

In practice, the ceiling track A may besecured to' the joist in anysuitable manner with the channel portion thereof facing downwardlytoward the floor track B. The said floor track in turn may be secured tothe floor with its channel facing upwardly. 'When th'e'two tracks aresecured in their relative and vertically aligned positions, the noveladjustable shoe D may be made to interlock withthe' ceiling track A in amanner now to be described. I

The said shoe D is preferably of substantially U-shaped formation,although in use at the top of the stud it assumes the position of aninverted U. Therefore, the said shoe D comprises the arms 55 which maybe of channel formation and slidably or adjustably embrace the chords3-3 of the stud, the said arms being connected by a stepped orshouldered transverse web portion 6. That is tosay, the web portion6-includes a substantially straight or flat intermediate portion I whilethe ends thereof are bent downwardly as indicated at 8 and thenceoutwardly as indicated at 9 where they connect with the arms 5. Thisformation (I8) permits the shoe to fit within the channel provided bythe ceiling track A and enables the shoe to be inserted into the trackfrom beneath or below the same. The portion I of the shoe is providedwith suitable keeper means in the form ofthe struck up projections oroppositely directed lugs III which form keeper openings or slots I I toreceive the horizontal legs of the channel members I of the ceilingtrack. In'other Words, the projections IilI are so made that theportions thereof which connect with the part 'I are spaced apart a lessdistance'than the'space between the adjacent edges of the horizontalflanges of the angle members II which constitute inwardly facingabutments on the track. On the other hand, the

outer portions of the struck out projections or lugs I0I0 are longenough to overlie the upper edges of the horizontal legs of the anglesI-I when the shoe is in final position. In order to apply the shoe tothe selected track it will thus be apparent that the shoe must beinitially or originally held at an oblique angle to the longitudinalaxis of the track and the lugs II] must be inserted within the spacebetween the edges of the horizontal legs of the channels I. Then bytwisting or turning the entire shoe until the latter is disposed atright angles to the ceiling track, the lugs Ii] become interlocked withthe track A. The arms -5 may be sprung apart when forced over the studand to insure permanent engagement therewith, after adjustment, they maybe secured to said chords by twisting wire about them or by nails orother fastenings driven through the slots in the arms and into the spacebetween the chord angles.

It will, of course, be understood that the shoe D may be applied to thetrack A in the manner above described before the stud C is inserted inthe legs 55 thereof, or on the other hand, according to the usualcustom, the shoe D may be first applied to the' end of the stud and theentire assembly applied and then rotated to flnal'position,

The anchor clip E at the bottom of the stud is preferably ofsubstantially L-shaped cross-section and thus includes the flanges I2"and I3. The flange I2, according to one form of the invention has itsend portions welded or otherwise secured to the stud, and the oppositeedges of the flange I2 near the flange I3 are slotted or cut away asindicated at I4 to provide keeper means in the form of recesses or slotsto receive the horizontal legs of the channelmembers I of the floortrack B. In practice, the clip E may be interlocked or connected withthe floor track B in the same way as the shoe D. That is to say. thestud carrying a clip E may be first obliquely disposed within the floortrack B with the slots I4 opposite the horizontal legs of the channels'land then the stud may be turned or twisted until it moves into aposition at right angles to the track. In this way the stud becomesautomatically locked with the floor track B.

From the foregoing it will be apparentthat when studs with plain endsare used the adjustable shoe D may be applied to both the upper andlower ends of the stud, or, on the other hand, the opposite ends of thestud may be both equipped at the time of making with the slotted anchor.clips E. In other words, both ends of the studs may be equipped withsimilar types of interlocking means or with different forms ofinterlocking means as shown in the drawings. In'either case the functionand result are the same, namely, that by twisting or turning the studrelative to the track in applying the same the stud becomes interlockedwith the track. The advantage of using shoes D at both ends of the stud,or a shoe at one end and an anchoring clip at the other, is to renderthe stud of adjustable length, as, for example, by sliding the armsalong the chords of the stud to the selected point before securing thearms to the chords.

Short sections of studs C and C may be made up with the slotted anchorclips E at one end and in this case, the stud sections maybe connectedand adjusted as to length by shifting them in the splicing sleeves F.That is to say, where the slotted anchor clips E are built into the endof a stud section, at the time of manufacture, it is .members of thestud.

preferred to connect; them bylthe splicing, shoes F which telescopicallyfit overtheoppositelchord The splicing sleeves F; ,areipreferablymade ofsuitable gauge metal including, i a body portion l having its sideportions I] folded inwardlytoward each other and terminating intheoffsetsubstantially parallel flangeportionsa'l'8. The splicing sleeves Fare, of course, .opeinatthe ,ends and, are intended to conform incross-section to the shape of the chords ofthe .stud.- Thecross-sectional formation of the, splicing sleeves above referred to isprimarily intended tocooperateiwith Jchords made to give the studasubstantially I -rbeam cross section. However; it willpofq course,- be.understood thatii the chords of thestudareof angle or L-shapedformation, it is within the scopeo'ttha invention toichangethecross-sectional shape of the splicing sleeve Faccordinglylg l Wheremaximum extensibility of the; studding is requiredthe arrangement showninFigure 6 may be resorted to; Accordingtothis modificae tion the studsections C and C? are not only: conneoted by the. splicing sleeves I;but an end:ofone of the stud sections may be fitted with-anadjustableshoe D offlthe type previously described, including the trackinterlocking means, for securing the stud to. the track. The splicingsleeves F may be secured to the chords of thestudin any suit-. ablemanner toprevent shifting. thereof. That is to say, they may be wired tothe chords or a nail or other fastening may be used to wedge. the sleeveto the chord by; placing the fastening between a portion, of the sleeveand'its embraced chord, or where the chord consists of angles back toback, the" fastening maybe 'wedgedin the space be tween the angles ofthe chord by. placing the fastening at the lower end of the sleeve oreven driving. it through. the body 16 of theesleeve and into the spacebetweenthe angles of the chord.

Where the slotted anchor clips E'are used, it is desirable to bend theflanges of the chords slightly inwardly by a hammer blow or the like asindicated at 3a so that the twisting of the chord in the channel ofthetrack may be facilitated. 'It will, of course, be understood thatsince the angle members I of the track sections are made of metal theyare inherently resilient, and, during the twisting of the stud in finalposition the angles will yield sufiiciently to permit the stud to movefrom its initial oblique position to the final transverse position.

Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings illustrate the embodiment of the anchorclip to perform the same function as the adjustable stud. That is tosay, the anchor clip E including the flanges [2a and lea and having theside slots Ma has the flange portion In spot welded or otherwise rigidlysecured to arm members F" which are in the nature of sleeves forengaging over the chords or flanges of the stud C The arms F include abody portion 20 having the side portions 2| thereof folded inwardly andthen bent at right angles as indicated at 22 to provide attachingflanges. These flanges embrace the opposite sides of the flange E211 andmaybe spot welded or otherwise secured thereto. If desired, the body 2%]may be slotted as indicatedat 23 to bring the edge of the flange ltaflush with the outer surface of the body. It will, of course, beunderstood that the anchor clip E is provided with two arms F so that ineffect the completed unit is of inverted U-shape formation. The arms Fhave a sliding telescopic engagement with the chords or flanges of thestud justedrelative to the stud. Because of thetele' scopic fit betweenthe arms F and the chords or flanges of the stud, and since the arms Fare connected to the clip, it is unnecessary to wire or otherwise]fasten the arms to the stud inasmuch as the telescopic engagementbetween the parts prevents spreading or shifting of the arms F.

Figures 11 and ,12 of the drawings illustrate a further modified form;of anchor clip E which may be used inconjunction with a stud C ofchannel formation, that is, a rolled channel as distinguished from, afabricated channel. The

anchor clip lil consists of ,a body portion 24 having side flanges 25for slidably embracing the flanges 26 of the stud C The upper end of thebody 2G is bent at right angles as indicated at 21 and has its, oppositeedge portions formed into lugs 23 which overlie the inwardly extendingnotches or recesses 29 intended to receive opposite abutment portions ofthe track A In this construction it will be apparent that the anchorclip E is made of one-piece and is so formed that it may slidably engagethe stud C to be adjustable thereon. The manner of applying the form ofanchor clip E to the track is the same as that employed in connectionwith other forms of the clip or the adjustable shoe, that is, thedesired interlock is obtained by turning or twisting the anchor clipfrom an oblique to a right angular position relative to y the track.

Figure illustrates a further modification of g the combined anchor clipand sleeve construction wherein the unit is made of inverted V-shape andin one piece. That is to say, the anchor clip portion E is formedintegrally with the side sleeves F The anchor clip E has the web portion33 formed with rounded corners 3| to easily fit within the track and thebody of the web is cut away I at the opposite edges and displaced orstruckup transversely to provide the slotted portions 32 and the trackinterlocking extensions 33. The sleeves or arms F are of such crosssectional shape as to slidably and telescopically embrace the chords ofthe stud.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a fabricated metallic studding system which admits of a widevariation of application in actual use because of its adjustability, andalso because of the facility with which the studs may be interlockedwith the tracks at the time of installation. Moreover, the presentsystem enables the manufacturer of the stud to make the studdingsections in more or less standardized lengths and carry them in stock,while at the same time enabling them to be quickly adapted to any givenspecification with the range 3f adjustability provided by the novelconstrucion.

I claim:

1. A stud system for partitions and the like including in combination,sections comprising spaced chord members, a stud, and track interlockingmeans carried by the opposite ends of the stud and having keeper meansadapted to become interlocked with the chord members by twisting thestud on its longitudinal axis.

2. A stud system for partitions and the like including in combination, atrack having inwardly facing abutments, a stud, and means connected withthe stud and including transversely alined slots for interlocking withsaid abutments upon a partial rotation of the stud on its longitudinalaxis relative to the tracks.

upper and lower trackv 3. A stud system for partitions and the like KI.

including in combination, a track having inwardly facing abutments, astud, and means engageable with the stud and having a transverse webformed with out-turned lugs providing recesses for interlocking withsaid abutments upon a partial rotation of the stud relative to thetracks.

4. A stud system for partitions and the like including in combination,upper and lower tracks including spaced chords, a stud, a U-shaped shoehaving arms for adjustably embracing opposite sides of the stud at oneend and having a transverse portion provided with keeper means forinterlocking with the inner edges of the chords of one of said tracksections, and means permanently connected with the other end of the studand also having keeper means for interlocking with the chords of theother track section.

5. A stud system for partitions and the like including in combination, atrack of channel formation, a stud, an adjustable shoe carried by thestud, said shoe including arms for slidably embracing the sides of thestud and a transverse Web portion having stepped formations at thejunction of the web and the arms to so form the web that it fits withinthe channel of said track, and keeper means formed on said transverseweb of the shoe for engaging with the track to interlock the stud withthe track.

6. A stud system for partitions and the like including in combination, atrack presenting inwardly facing abutments, a stud, and means forconnecting the stud to the track, said means including a body ofsubstantially channel shaped cross section for slidably engaging thestud, said body having a flange at one end and near the flange beingprovided With recesses 'for receiving a portion of the track betweensaid abutments.

7. A stud system for partitions and the like, including, in combination,a track presenting inwardly facing abutments, a stud having flanges,

and means for connecting the stud to the track, said means including amember having keeper means for engaging said abutments and also havingarms carried by said member for telescopically embracing and claspingsaid member to the flanges of the stud.

8. A stud system for partitions and the like including in combination, atrack having spaced abutments, a stud comprising a plurality ofsections, each including opposite chord members, means at the end of oneof said sections connected therewith and having keeper means forengaging with the said abutments of the track to hold the stud sectioninterlocked therewith, and splicing sleeves for connecting said studsections to vary the efiective length of the studs, said splicingsleeves telescopically embracing and clasping the chords of said studsections to maintain the same in adjusted position.

9. A stud system for partitions and the like, including, in combination,a track having spaced abutments, a stud comprising a plurality ofsections each including opposite chord members, means at the end of oneof said sections having keeper means for engaging with said abutments ofthe track to hold the stud section interlocked therewith, and splicingelements for connecting the inner ends of said stud sections, saidsplicing elements slidably connecting the intermediate portions of thechords of said stud sections to maintain the same in erected position.

10. In a metal stud structure, the combination with the stud comprisingconnected chord members, of a stud anchoring angle member disposedtransversely of the stud and including upright and horizontal flanges,said upright flanges secured to one end of the stud and the horizontalflange having an opening for receiving a fastening to secure the stud tothe floor or ceiling.

WILLIAM GRISWOLD HURLBERT, JR.

